Shelving assembly

ABSTRACT

A shelving assembly includes a shelf bracket including a bracket front end, a bracket rear end disposed opposite the bracket front end, and a bracket support member extending between the bracket front end and the bracket rear end. The bracket support member has a top wall. The shelving assembly further includes a shelf configured for being releasably coupled to the shelf bracket, the shelf including a shelf front end, a shelf rear end disposed opposite the shelf front end, and a shelf support member extending between the shelf front end and the shelf rear end, the shelf support member having a top surface and a bottom surface. The shelf also includes a wall that extends from the shelf front end at an acute angle relative to the top surface of the shelf support member. The shelf support member and the wall provide support for products to be displayed on the shelving assembly. One of the shelf bracket and the shelf includes a projection, and the other of the shelf bracket and the shelf includes an aperture sized to receive the projection to capture the shelf relative to the shelf bracket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of shelving assemblies.Specifically, the present invention relates to a shelving assembly fordisplaying gum, candy, food products or a variety of other items in astore, warehouse, or other environment.

BACKGROUND

Shelving assemblies are commonly used in, although not limited to,stores to display and provide customer access to items such as gum,candy, or other food products and articles. The shelving assembliestypically include rows of adjacent shelves upon which the items rest,the shelves being angled downwardly from rear to front toward the storefloor to enhance product visibility and provide ready access to thedisplayed products.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a shelving assembly includes a shelfbracket including a bracket front end, a bracket rear end disposedopposite the bracket front end, and a bracket support member extendingbetween the bracket front end and the bracket rear end. The bracketsupport member has a top wall. The shelving assembly further includes ashelf configured for being releasably coupled to the shelf bracket, theshelf including a shelf front end, a shelf rear end disposed oppositethe shelf front end, and a shelf support member extending between theshelf front end and the shelf rear end, the shelf support member havinga top surface and a bottom surface. The shelf also includes a wall thatextends from the shelf front end at an acute angle relative to the topsurface of the shelf support member. The shelf support member and thewall provide support for products to be displayed on the shelvingassembly. One of the shelf bracket and the shelf includes a projection,and the other of the shelf bracket and the shelf includes an aperturesized to receive the projection to capture the shelf relative to theshelf bracket

In accordance with another embodiment, a shelving assembly includes ashelf including a shelf front end, and a shelf rear end disposedopposite the shelf front end. The shelf rear end includes an aperture.The shelf further includes a shelf support member extending between theshelf front end and the shelf rear end, and a wall that extends from theshelf front end at an acute angle relative to the shelf support member.The shelving assembly further includes a shelf bracket configured to bereleasably coupled to the shelf. The shelf bracket includes a bracketfront end, and a bracket rear end disposed opposite the bracket frontend. The bracket rear end includes a first projection to couple theshelf bracket to a vertical support structure. The bracket rear end alsoincludes a second projection configured to be received in the aperture.The shelf bracket further includes a bracket support member extendingbetween the bracket front end and the bracket rear end. The bracketsupport member has a top wall. The bracket front end has a first heightmeasured along a first axis and the bracket rear end has a second heightmeasured along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. Thesecond height is greater than the first height, such that the top wallextends at an oblique angle relative to both the first axis and thesecond axis. The shelf support member is configured to rest on the topwall and the second projection is configured to be received in theaperture when the shelf is coupled to the shelf bracket.

In accordance with another embodiment, a shelving assembly includes ashelf including a shelf front end, a shelf rear end disposed oppositethe shelf front end, and a shelf support member extending between theshelf front end and the shelf rear end. The shelf support member has atop surface and a bottom surface. A first aperture is formed in theshelf rear end, a first projection extends below the shelf supportmember, and a second projection extends below the shelf support member.The shelving assembly further includes a shelf bracket configured to bereleasably coupled to the support member. The shelf bracket includes abracket front end, a bracket rear end disposed opposite the bracketfront end, and a bracket support member extending between the bracketfront end and the bracket rear end. The shelf bracket includes a thirdprojection disposed at the bracket rear end. The third projection issized to be received within the first aperture. A second aperture isformed in the bracket support member. The second aperture is sized toreceive the first projection. A third aperture is formed in the bracketsupport member. The third aperture is sized to receive the secondprojection.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelving assembly according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the shelving assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a shelf bracket of the shelving assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the shelf bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the shelf bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the shelf bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a shelf of the shelving assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the shelvingassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a portion of the shelving assemblyof FIG. 1.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limited.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a shelving assembly 10. While the shelving assembly10 is described in the context of displaying items in a store, theshelving assembly 10 may be used for a variety of other purposes aswell, including but not limited to storing or displaying consumerproducts (e.g., clothing, shoes, toys, etc.) in a store, warehouse, orother environment.

With reference to FIG. 1, the shelving assembly 10 includes a verticalshelving support structure 14 that supports the shelving assembly 10. Insome applications, the vertical supports 14 may be part of a largershelving assembly, such as a gondola-type assembly, or may rest directlyon a floor 16 or be mounted on a wall. The shelving assembly 10 furtherincludes a plurality of brackets 18 that are releasably coupled to thevertical support structure 14, and a plurality of shelves 22 that arereleasably coupled to the shelf brackets 18.

With reference to FIGS. 2-6, each shelf bracket 18 includes a bracketfront end 26, a bracket rear end 30, and a bracket support member 34that extends between the bracket front end 26 and the bracket rear end30. The bracket support member 34 includes a top wall 36. As illustratedin FIG. 5, the bracket front end 26 has a height 38 measured along afirst axis 42. The bracket rear end 30 has a height 46 measured along asecond axis 50. In one embodiment, the first axis 42 is parallel to thesecond axis 50. The top wall 36 of the bracket support member 34 extendsat an oblique angle 54 relative to both the first axis 42 and the secondaxis 50. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the top wall 36of the bracket support member 34 is generally planar, such that theoblique angles 54 are identical at each axis 42, 50.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2-6, each bracket 18 also includes aside wall 58. The top wall 36 extends generally perpendicular to theside wall 58. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the top wall 36 has a generallyrectangular profile when viewed from above. As illustrated in FIG. 5, insome embodiments a notched-out region 66 is formed along a bottom of theside wall 58.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2-6, each shelf bracket 18 includes atleast one coupling member 70 to releasably couple the shelf bracket 18to the vertical support structure 14. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, the side wall 58 includes two coupling members 70 in theform of hook-shaped projections that form part of the bracket rear end30. The two coupling members 70 are generally aligned and spaced apartfrom one another along a direction of the second axis 50. In otherembodiments, the shelf brackets 18 are integrally formed in one piecewith the vertical support structure 14. The vertical supports 14 aretypically provided with a series of spaced-apart apertures orprojections along their height to releasably receive projections 70, asis well known in the art. Shelf brackets 18 may thus be releasablyattached to the vertical supports 14 at desired locations along theheight of the supports.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2-6, each shelf bracket 18 includes aprojection 74 along the top wall 36 and disposed at the rear of thebracket to releasably couple the shelf bracket 18 to the shelf 22 Theprojection 74 may form an integral part of the bracket rear end 30. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, a portion of the projection 74 extends flush withthe bracket support member 34. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the projection74 includes a notch 78, which facilitates coupling of the shelf 22 tothe shelf bracket 18 as described further below. As illustrated in FIG.5, the projection 74 is generally disposed above the two hook-shapedcoupling members 70 along a direction of the second axis 50.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, each shelf bracket 18 also includes twoapertures 82 spaced apart along the bracket support member 34. Each ofthe apertures 82 may be rectangular in shape and of the same size as theother aperture 82. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the apertures 82 isdefined by a front edge 86, a rear edge 90, a first side edge 94, and asecond side edge 98 on the bracket support member 34. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the two apertures 82 are eachspaced an identical distance 102 from an intersection of the side wall58 and the top wall 36. Other embodiments include different numbers,sizes, and arrangements of the apertures 82.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, each of the shelves 22 includes a shelffront end 106, a shelf rear end 110, and a shelf support member 114extending between the shelf front end 106 and the shelf rear end 110. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the shelf support member 114 includes a topsurface 115 and a bottom surface 116. The shelf 22 also includes a wall118 that extends from and is coupled to the shelf front end 106. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the wall 118 extends at an acute angle 122relative to the top surface 115 of the shelf support member 114. In theillustrated embodiment, the wall 118 is integrally formed in one piecewith the shelf front end 106. In other embodiments, the wall 118 is aseparate piece that is coupled to the shelf front end 106. In someembodiments, the acute angle may be less than 45 degrees. In otherembodiments, the acute angle may be less than 30 degrees. In still otherembodiments, the acute angle may be approximately 28 degrees. Otherembodiments include different ranges and values for the acute angle 122.The wall 118 prevents items resting on shelf support member 114 fromslipping off of the shelving assembly 10, and along with the shelfsupport member 114, serves to support products on the shelving assembly10. For example, because of the acute angle 122 of the wall 118, boxesof items (e.g., boxes of gum or candy) are more easily seen than withlarger angles 122, thus making it easier for a consumer to identify andtarget specific food items on the shelving assembly 10. Wall 118 alsoprovides a surface for displaying product information and advertisingrelating to the products supported on shelf 22, such as brand names andpricing.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, each shelf 22 may alsoinclude a hook-shaped portion 126 located at the rear of the shelf toreleasably couple the shelf bracket 18 to the shelf 22. For example, inthe illustrated embodiment, the shelf rear end 110 includes ahook-shaped portion 126 that hooks over at least a portion of thebracket rear end 30. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 9, the shelf rear end110 also includes an aperture 130 that receives the projection 74 on theshelf bracket 18. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a portion of the aperture130 is formed in the hook-shaped portion 126, and another portion of theaperture 130 is formed in the shelf support member 114. When the shelf22 is coupled to the shelf bracket 18, a portion of the shelf rear end110 is received in notch 78 of projection 74, as described in moredetail below.

With reference to FIG. 7, the shelf 22 also includes two hook-shapedprojections 134 that each extends from below the bottom surface 116 ofthe shelf support member 114. Each of the projections 134 includes anupper portion 138 and a lower portion 142, the upper portion 138extending from the bottom surface 116 of the shelf support member 114and the lower portion 142 extending from the upper portion 138 towardthe shelf front end 106. In one embodiment, the upper portion 138extends generally perpendicular to the bottom surface 116 and to theprojection 74 on the shelf bracket 18, and the lower portion 142 extendsgenerally parallel to the bottom surface 116 and to the projection 74.Each projection 138 forms a receiving space with the bottom surface 116of the support surface 114. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the shelf 22 has agenerally S-shaped profile when viewed from the side, with the wall 118extending from one side of the shelf support member 114, and thehook-shaped projections 134 and the hook-shaped portion 126 extendingfrom an opposite side of the shelf support member 114.

With reference to FIGS. 1-9, the shelf 22 is coupled to the shelfbracket 18 by inserting the two hook-shaped projections 134 on the shelf22 through the two apertures 82 on the shelf bracket 18 and then slidingthe shelf 22 forward toward the bracket front end 26, such that thelower portions 142 of the hook-shaped projections 134 slide under andcapture the shelf support member 114 and the upper portions 138 of thehook-shaped projections 134 abut against the front edges 86 along theapertures 82 (FIG. 8). Each front edge 86 is thus received in the spaceformed between projections 134 and the bottom surface 116 of the shelfsupport member 114. As this forward movement occurs, the aperture 130 onthe shelf 22 receives the projection 74 on the shelf bracket 18 (FIG.9), such that a portion of the projection 74 extends through theaperture 130 and projects out from the shelf 22 to capture a portion ofthe shelf 22. During this forward movement the shelf 22 snaps over theprojection 74, such that the projection 74 is moved (e.g., deflected)initially relative to the shelf 22 (e.g., the projection 74 moveslaterally to the side) to fit and slide into and through the aperture130, and is then deflected back, with the notch 78 snapping back onto oraround the area of the shelf 22 surrounding the aperture 130 (FIG. 9).During this forward movement, the hook-shaped portion 126 also hooksover at least a portion of the bracket rear end 30 to capture a portionof the bracket 18. As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the shelf 22 iscoupled to the shelf bracket 18, the bottom surface 116 of the shelfsupport member 114 rests on the top wall 36 of the bracket supportmember 34, and the shelf support member 114 projects forwardly over thebracket front end 26.

The notch 78 on the projection 74 is used to aid in retaining andcoupling the shelf 22 to the bracket 18. For example, once the shelf 22has been moved forward such that the portion of the projection 74extends through the aperture 130, the shelf 22 is hooked by the notch 78and inhibited from being pushed back rearwardly.

The shelf 22 is intended to remain coupled to the shelf bracket 18 inthis manner. However, if it is desired to remove the shelf 22, theprocess described above is reversed. For example, the projection 74 ismoved (e.g., deflected) relative to the aperture 130, and then the shelf22 pulled back along a direction away from the bracket front end 26, sothat the projection 74 is pulled out of the aperture 130, thehook-shaped portion 126 is moved away from the bracket rear end 30, andthe lower portions 142 of the hook-shaped projections 134 are moved outfrom underneath the shelf support member 114. The shelf 22 is thenlifted to raise the hook-shaped projections 134 completely out of thetwo apertures 82.

With reference to FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the shelf 22 iscoupled to two of the shelf brackets 18. The shelf 22 includes twoopposite ends 146, 150. Each end 146, 150 is a mirror image of theother, and each end 146, 150 is releasably coupled to one of the shelfbrackets 18 as described above. In a preferred embodiment, each of theends 146, 150 includes one of the apertures 130, two of the hook-shapedprojections 134 and one of the hook-shaped portions 126 described above,such that each end 146, 150 is coupled to a corresponding shelf bracket18 in the same manner as described above. For example, during assemblythe shelf 22 snaps over the projection 74 on each of the brackets 18 viathe apertures 130 of the shelf 22. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wall118 on the shelf 22 extends along an entire length 154 of the shelf 22between the two shelf brackets 18, thereby providing product support anda product information display surface along the entire length 154 of theshelf 22.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the inventionas described.

1. A shelving assembly comprising: a shelf bracket including: a bracketfront end, a bracket rear end disposed opposite the bracket front end,and a bracket support member extending between the bracket front end andthe bracket rear end, the bracket support member having a top wall; anda shelf configured for being releasably coupled to the shelf bracket,the shelf including: a shelf front end, a shelf rear end disposedopposite the shelf front end, a shelf support member extending betweenthe shelf front end and the shelf rear end, the shelf support memberhaving a top surface and a bottom surface, and a wall that extends fromthe shelf front end at an acute angle relative to the top surface of theshelf support member, wherein the shelf support member and the wallprovide support for products to be displayed on the shelving assembly,and one of the shelf bracket and the shelf includes a projection and theother of the shelf bracket and the shelf includes an aperture sized toreceive the projection to releasably couple the shelf relative to theshelf bracket.
 2. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelfbracket includes the projection and the shelf includes the aperturesized to receive the projection and releasably couple the shelf to theshelf bracket.
 3. The shelving assembly of claim 2, wherein theprojection is a first projection and the aperture is a first apertureand the shelf includes a second projection that extends from the shelfsupport member, and the shelf bracket support member includes a secondaperture sized to receive the second projection and releasably couplethe shelf to the shelf bracket.
 4. The shelving assembly of claim 3,wherein the shelf includes a third projection that extends from theshelf support member and the shelf bracket support member includes athird aperture sized to receive the third projection and releasablycouple the shelf to the shelf bracket.
 5. The shelving assembly of claim4, wherein each of the second and third projections are hook-shapedprojections that extend below the bottom surface of the shelf supportmember and each of the hook-shaped projections includes a lower portionthat extends generally toward the shelf front end and forms a receivingspace with the bottom surface of the shelf support member.
 6. Theshelving assembly of claim 5, wherein the first projection is disposedat the shelf bracket rear end and extends in a direction that isparallel to the top surface of the shelf support member and parallel tothe lower portions of the hook-shaped projections.
 7. The shelvingassembly of claim 6, wherein the shelving assembly includes two of theshelf brackets, and the shelf extends between the two shelf brackets. 8.The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelving assembly includestwo of the shelf brackets, and the shelf extends between the two shelfbrackets.
 9. The shelving assembly of claim 8, wherein the wall extendsalong an entire length of the shelf between the two shelf brackets. 10.The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf has an S-shapedprofile.
 11. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf supportmember projects forwardly over the shelf bracket front end.
 12. Theshelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is 28 degrees. 13.The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf bracket rear endincludes two hook-shaped projections to releasably couple the shelfbracket to a vertical shelving support structure.
 14. The shelvingassembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf bracket front end has a firstheight measured along a first axis and the shelf bracket rear end has asecond height measured along a second axis and the first axis isparallel to the second axis and the second height is greater than thefirst height.
 15. The shelving assembly of claim 14, wherein the topwall of the shelf bracket support member extends at an oblique anglerelative to both the first axis and the second axis.
 16. The shelvingassembly of claim 1, wherein the wall is integrally formed with theshelf front end.
 17. A shelving assembly comprising: a shelf including:a shelf front end, a shelf rear end disposed opposite the shelf frontend, the shelf rear end including an aperture, a shelf support memberextending between the shelf front end and the shelf rear end, and a wallthat extends from the shelf front end at an acute angle relative to theshelf support member, and a shelf bracket configured to be releasablycoupled to the shelf, the shelf bracket including: a bracket front end,a bracket rear end disposed opposite the bracket front end, the bracketrear end including a first projection to couple the shelf bracket to avertical support structure, the bracket rear end also including a secondprojection configured to be received in the aperture, and a bracketsupport member extending between the bracket front end and the bracketrear end, the bracket support member including a top wall, wherein thebracket front end has a first height measured along a first axis and thebracket rear end has a second height measured along a second axis thatis parallel to the first axis and the second height is greater than thefirst height, such that the top wall extends at an oblique anglerelative to both the first axis and the second axis, wherein the shelfsupport member is configured to rest on the top wall and the secondprojection is configured to be received in the aperture when the shelfis coupled to the shelf bracket.
 18. The shelving assembly of claim 17,wherein the aperture is a first aperture and the shelf includes a thirdprojection that extends from the shelf support member and the shelfbracket support member includes a second aperture that is sized toreceive the third projection.
 19. The shelving assembly of claim 18,wherein the shelf includes a fourth projection that extends from theshelf support member and the shelf bracket support member includes athird aperture that is sized to receive the fourth projection.
 20. Theshelving assembly of claim 17, wherein the acute angle is approximately28 degrees.
 21. A shelving assembly comprising: a shelf including: ashelf front end, a shelf rear end disposed opposite the shelf front end,a shelf support member extending between the shelf front end and theshelf rear end, the shelf support member having a top surface and abottom surface, a first aperture formed in the shelf rear end; a firstprojection extending below the shelf support member; and a secondprojection extending below the shelf support member, and a shelf bracketconfigured to be releasably coupled to the support member, the shelfbracket including: a bracket front end, a bracket rear end disposedopposite the bracket front end, a bracket support member extendingbetween the bracket front end and the bracket rear end, a thirdprojection disposed at the bracket rear end, the third projection sizedto be received within the first aperture, a second aperture formed inthe bracket support member, the second aperture sized to receive thefirst projection, and a third aperture formed in the bracket supportmember, the third aperture sized to receive the second projection. 22.The shelving assembly of claim 21, wherein the first and secondprojections are hook-shaped projections each having a lower portion thatextends forwardly toward the shelf front end and forms a receiving spacewith the bottom surface of the shelf support member.
 23. The shelvingassembly of claim 22, wherein the hook-shaped projections each have anupper portion that extends from the bottom surface of the shelf supportmember.
 24. The shelving assembly of claim 21, wherein the thirdprojection extends in a direction that is parallel to the top surface ofthe shelf support member.